Pocket billiard table with apron mounted ball guides



Aug. 22, 1967 R. w. MILLER ETAL 3,337,216

POCKET BILLIARD TABLE WITH APRON MOUNTED BALL GUIDES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1964 M INVENTORS RAPHAEL W /W/Z E/ HAROLD J. W095 7 ROY /A/GER$OLL FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1967 R. w. MILLER ETAL 3,337,216

POCKET BILLIARD TABLE WITH APRON MOUNTED BALL GUIDES Filed April 22, 1964 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS RAPHAEL 14/. M/LLfR HAROLD J. WORST ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,337,216 POCKET BlLLllARD TABLE WITH APRGN MOUNTED BALL GUHDES Raphael W. Miller, Jackson, Harold 5. Worst, Grand Rapids, and Ray Ingersoll, Ukemos, Mich, assignors to Championship Billiards Corporation, Grand Rapids,

Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 361,697 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-3) The invention pertains to a game playing table of the billiard or pocket billiard type wherein balls are supported on a planar playing surface an resilient rails are located adjacent the periphery of the playing board and extend thereabove to cause the balls to rebound from the rails.

The technics employed in the manufacture of billiard and pocket billiard tables have become rather standardized over the many years which such tables have been produced, and present manufacturing costs cause a high quality table to be very expensive. It is, therefore, a basic object of the invention to provide a billiard or pocket billiard type table of very high quality wherein modern fabrication and construction means are employed without sacrificing the quality an accuracy of the table construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pocket billiard table construction having ball return means which are uniquely related to the table structure, easily assembled therein and simplify the 'ball return means over standard pocket billiard table constructions.

These and other objects of the invention arising from the details and relationships of the components of an embodiment thereof will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pocket billiard table employing the concepts of the invention wherein portions of the table are sectioned for purposes of illustration,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a pocket billiard table frame in accord with the invention wherein the playing board and the rails are removed,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, detail, plan View of the corner construction of the frame and pocket of a pocket billiard table in accord with the invention,

FIG. 4 is an elevational, sectional view of a detail of the table frame construction as taken along IVIV of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is an elevational, sectional, diametrical view of the leg adjusting means,

FIG. 6 is an elevational, sectional, enlarged detail view of a frame, rail supporting member, rail, apron and ball return chute, as taken along section VIVI of FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a detail, plan, sectional view of the means for attaching the aprons to the pocket castings, as taken along section VII-VII of FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a ball return element, and

FIG. 9 is an elevational, sectional view of the playing board plane adjusting means employed with a table of the invention.

The general appearance of a pocket billiard table employing the concepts of the invention will be best appreciated from FIG. 1. Of course, a billiard table employing the inventive concepts of the invention will appear identical to that of FIG. 1 except that no pockets will be employed, nor will ball return and collection means be mounted on the table, as illustrated.

Basically, the table consists of a generally rectangular frame 10 having longitudinal sides and end portions. The longitudinal sides are preferably formed of a pair of inner and outer side members 12 and 14, respectively, intercon- 3,3312% Patented Aug. 22, 1967 "ice nected 'by bolts 16, or other fastening devices. The inner side members 12 are of lesser length than the outer side members 14, wherein the ends of the side members will not align. This arrangement is best shown in FIG. 3. The end portions of the frame also each include an inner structural member 18 and an outer structural member 20. The inner structural member 18 is of lesser length than the outer member 20, whereby a step occurs at the ends of the members as noted in FIG. 3.

The ends of the side members 12 and the end members 18 are interconnected by an X-shaped metallic fastening member 22, FIG. 3. The fastening member 22 is provided with holes through which bolts 24 extend to afiix the fastening means to the frame members and thereby rigidly interconnect the members together so that the upper surfaces thereof will 'be coplanar to form a supporting surface for the playing board. Bolts 26 afilx the member 22 to the ends of the members 12 and 18. The fastening members 22 may be formed of an extruded part, and provide a more rigid connection than is possible with conventional perpendicularly related interconnecting ar rangements.

The frame longitudinal sides are interconnected intermediate the ends by three cross members 28. The cross members 28 are preferably provided with a stepped end 30 defining a shoulder 32, FIG. 4, parallel to the length of the cross members. The inner side members 12 are provided with recesses 34 forming a downwardly facing stepped shoulder 36 which cooperates with the cross member shoulder 32 upon the end 30 of the cross member being received within a recess 34, as will be noted in FIG. 4. A hole 38 is transversely defined in the cross members adjacent the shoulder 32 for reception of a T-nut 40 having a threaded bore defined therein. A bore 42 is defined within the inner side members 12 through which a bolt 44 extends for cooperation with the T-nut to draw the cross member into firm engagement with the side member 12. The engagement of the shoulders 32 and 36 prevents vertical displacement of the interlocked cross member and the side member.

The frame 10 is supported on a pair of pedestal leg means 46 which are of an elongated configuration and positioned under the outer cross members 28. Angle iron brackets 48 aflix the associated cross member to the supporting pedestal whereby the frame will be firmly attached to the pedestal leg means. The pedestal leg means may be of a hollow configuration and include an interal support block 50, FIG. 5, which is provided with a vertical bore 52. The lower pedestal member 54 is provided with a recess in which a metallic threaded nut member 56 is firmly positioned. A bore 58 is formed in member 54 concentric with nut 56 and in alignment with bore 52. A

base member 60 is provided with a lower supporting sur-' base members 60, and the associated structure, a base member being located adjacent each end of a pedestal. By inserting the actuating rod 64 in a threaded hole 62, the base 60 may be rotated to screw the shaft 68 into or out of the pedestal bore 52 and thereby adjust the vertical position of the frame. In that four bases 60 will be used to support the table, it will be appreciated that the table may be very easily and quickly leveled regardless of the condition of the floor on which the table is supported or the type of floor covering.

The end pockets 70 of the table are preferably of a cast aluminum construction, having walls 72 and 74 perpendicularly related to each other for cooperation with the ends of the frame end and side members 14 and 20. Bolts 76 firmly attach the pocket castings 70 to the frame members and, thus, the pocket castings contribute to the interconnection between the frame elements and add to the rigidity of the table construction. Pocket cups 78 are located within the pocket castings 7t) and are preferably formed of a relatively soft material such as rubber or synthetic plastic, and are provided with openings adjacent the bottom thereof whereby balls received within the cups may be directed into the ball return means. The side pockets 80 are preferably also of a cast construction and include similar ball cups 82 to receive the pocket billiard balls therein, and are open at the bottom whereby the balls may fall to the ball return means.

The rails of the billiard or pocket billiard table in accord with the invention are supported by metallic rail supporting members 84 having a cross section which will be apparent from FIG. 6. The planar lower portion 86 of the rail supporting members is formed with an inner planar surface 88 which engages the outer surface of the longitudinal side and end members 14 and 20. Longitudinal ribs 90 are defined on the members 84 for positioning the rails thereon, and a flange portion 92 extends away from the frame and terminates in a downwardly extending portion 94. The portion 94 terminates in an enlarged configuration in which a recess 96 is defined. The recess 96 extends the length of the rail supporting members 84 and is adapted to receive an apron member, as will be later described. The rail supporting members 84 are attached to the frame by screws, bolts, or other conventional fastenings means.

The rails 98 include grooves 100 adapted to receive ribs 90 defined on the adjacent rail supporting member and the resilient cushion 102 is aflixed to the rail. Carriage bolts 104 are employed to attach the rails 98 to the rail supporting members 84, and as the bolt nut 106 is accessible from below the flange portion 92, the rails may be readily removed from the rail supporting members with a minimum of table disassembly. The upper exposed surfaces of the rail supporting members may be covered with a synthetic, laminated material 108, if desired, for purposes of providing an attractive appearance.

The billiard or pocket billiard table in accord with the invention is provided with aprons 110 extending from the portion 94 of the rail supporting members. Aprons 110 extend downwardly a distance sufficient to hide the frame and ball return apparatus from view and are preferably formed of a synthetic, extruded plastic material. The aprons 110 are provided with a tongue 112 along the upper longitudinal edge having an enlarged head adapted to be received within the apron supporting member recess 96 whereby a smooth, continuous joint between the portion 94 and the associated apron is provided. The aprons 110 extend the length of the longitudinal and side portions of the frame, and are provided on their inner sides with a pair of opposed projections 114 defining a horizontal ball return chute receiving recess 116, FIG. 6. The aprons 110 are attached at their ends to the end pocket castings 70, as shown in FIG. 7. The aprons are machined adjacent their ends to produce a groove 118 and a tongue 120. The end pocket castings are also provided with a tongue 122 and a groove 124 whereby the castings and aprons may be firmly united in an interlocking relationship, and this relationship is maintained by the retainer clips 126, which are held in position by screws 128 threaded into the end pocket castings.

The ball return means include a pair of chutes 130 mounted on each of the aprons 110 defining the longitudinal portions of the table. As will be apparent from FIG. 1, a chute 136- extends from below each end pocket cup 78 to below the adjacent side pocket cup 82. The ball return chutes 130 are preferably formed of an extruded synthetic plastic material and include a concave ball receiving portion 132 having longitudinal edges. One of the longitudinal edges of the ball receiving portion is in the form of a frame engaging portion, having a planar portion 134 and defining a shoulder 136. The planar portion 134 associates with the underside of the rail sup porting member 84 and the underside of the longitudinal frame side member 14, as shown in FIG. 6, whereby the portion 134 may be attached to the frame by means of spaced screws 138. The other longitudinal edge of the ball receiving portion 132 is formed in a planar configuration 140 defined by longitudinal edges 142, FIG. 8. The edges 142 are of a nonparallel configuration with respect to the longitudinal length of the ball receiving portion, whereby upon the portion 140 being inserted within the apron recess 116, the ball receiving portion 132 will be inclined with respect to the horizontal. Thus,

the end of the ball return chutes 130 adjacent the end pocket cups 78 will be higher than that portion disposed below the side pocket cup 82. As a ball is received within an end pocket, it, therefore, is directed from the opening in the end pocket cup to the chute and rolls therefrom to a position below the adjacent side pocket cup.

As the ball return chutes 130 also function to attach the aprons to the frame 10, it will be appreciated that the aprons will be rigidly supported relative to the frame at two spaced locations.

Ball receiving chutes 144 are attached to the frame 10 adjacent the central cross member 28 and disposed therebelow, FIG. 2. The outer ends of the ball return chuites 144 are disposed below the side pocket cups 82 in communication with chutes to receive balls falling either into the end pockets or the side pockets. A central ball return chute 146 communicates with the transverse chutes 144 and directs the balls to the ball receiving basket 148 mounted to the frame and accessible below the end apron, as will be apparent from FIG. 1.

The ball playing surface is preferably formed by a planar board 150 formed of a composite material manufactured by the Johns Manville Corp, sold under the trademark Colorlith. This material has characteristics very similar to those of the slate normally used as the playing surface. However, the board 150 may be formed as an integral member throughout the entire playing surface, and may be more accurately manufactured thari slate may be cut. The peripheral portion of the board 150 is provided with a wood supporting frame 152, as will be apparent from FIG. 6, which is attached to the underside of the board adjacent the periphery thereof. In this manner the board may be mounted on the upper surfaces of the frame longitudinal and side elements. Of course, the board 150 is covered with a fabric material, as are the rail cushions 102, in the conventional manner.

As it is desired that the upper surface of the board 150 be of an accurate planar configuration, leveling means are employed to insure that the central portions of the board are planar with respect to the peripheral board portions. Such leveling means are illustrated in FIG. 9 and include anglebrackets 154 centrally attached to each of the cross members 28, FIG. 2. The angle brackets 154 include a hole 156 formed in the horizontally disposed angle member portion. The board 150 is bored and countersunk as at 158 directly above the holes 156 formed in the brackets. A screw 160 is inserted through each hole 158 and extends through the holes 156. A nut 162 threaded on the screw and engaging the lower surface of the board locks the screw 166 relative to the board 150. The upper portion of the countersunk bored hole 156 is filled with a filler, such as Fiberglas, or the like, whereby the playing board surface is not interrupted. Nuts 164 and 166 are located on the screw 160 above and below the horizontal bracket portion, whereby the screw may function as a jack and upon locating the nuts 164 and 166, as desired, it will be appreciated that the screw may be raised or lowered to very accurately locate the center of the board 150 relative to its peripheral portions. As a jackserew 160 is associated with the board 10 at each of the cross members 28, very accurate regulation of the planar configuration of the board may be achieved.

The upper surface 168 of the cross members 28 is preferably formed on a small oblique angle to the bottom surface 170 of the board 150. This angle may be in the neighborhood of three degrees and is exaggerated in the drawing for purpose of illustration. The angled surface 168 permits wedges 172 to be inserted between the cross member and the underside of the board 150 to support the central portions of the board atspaced locations throughout the length of the cross members. Thus, after the jackscrews 160 are adjusted to assure that the board 150 is flat, the wedges 172 will be inserted to maintain the board adjustment. Cement may be applied to the wedges 172 to afi'ix them in position.

From the foregoing description of the construction of a billiard or pocket billiard table in accord with the invention, it will be appreciated that a high quality table is formed in such a manner that the table fabrication and assembly is relatively simple without sacrificing sound structural practices. By the use of extrusions to form the fastening members 22, the rail supporting members 84, the aprons 110, and the ball return chutes 130, attractive' components are employed at a minimum cost and yet a high quality appearance is obtained. The leveling of the table by means of the adjustable bases 60 provides a solid and versatile support for the table, and the board jackscrews and wedges permit the playing surface to be very accurately adjusted to a planar configuration.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is intended that the invention be defined only by the following claims:

We claim:

1. A pocket billiard table comprising, in combination,

(a) a table frame including longitudinal sides and end portions,

(b) ball receiving pockets mounted on said frame adjacent said longitudinal sides,

(c) elongated aprons mounted on said frame disposed adjacent each of said frame longitudinal sides and spaced therefrom, said apron-s including an inner side disposed toward the adjacent frame longitudinal side and being of a length substantially equal to the length of said longitudinal sides,

(d) a pair of spaced parallel horizontally extending projections defined on the inner side of said aprons defining a horizontal recess, and

(e) elongated ball return guides each having a ball receiving portion and an apron recess engaging portion, said ball receiving portion being angularly related to said recess engaging portion in the longitudinal direction, said ball return guides recess engaging portion being received within said apron recesses connecting said guides to the associated apron, said guides extending below said pockets.

2. A pocket billiard table comprising, in combination,

(a) a table frame including longitudinal sides having end portions and a central portion,

(b) end ball receiving pockets mounted on said frame adjacent said end portions and a central ball receiving side pocket mounted on said frame at said central portions,

(c) an elongated apron mounted on said frame adjacent and substantially parallel to each longitudinal side and spaced therefrom, said aprons including an inner side disposed toward the adjacent frame longitudinal side and being of a length substantially equal to the length of said longitudinal sides, and

(d) a pair of elongated return guides mounted on each of said aprons adjacent the inner side thereof, each of said guides extending from adjacent and below said end pockets to adjacent and below the central side pocket associated with a common longitudinal side,

6 said guides being angularly related to the horizontal whereby the portion of each guide adjacent an end pocket is disposed above the portion of the same guide adjacent the side pocket.

3. In a pocket billiard table as in claim 2 wherein:

(a) a pair of spaced, parallel, horizontally extending projections are defined on the inner side of said aprons, defining a horizontal recess, and

(-b) said ball return guides each having a ball receiving portion and an apron recess engaging portion, said ball receiving portion being angularly related to said recess engaging portion in the longitudinal direction, said ball return guides recess engaging portion being received within said apron recesses and connecting said guides to the associated apron intermediate the associated apron and the adjacent longitudinal frame side.

4. In a pocket billiard table as in claim 3 wherein:

(a) said ball return guides include a frame attachment portion adjacent said ball receiving portion and spaced from the recess engaging portion whereby said guides may be attached to the adjacent frame longitudinal side by said frame attachment portion.

5. A pocket billiard table comprising, in combination,

(a) a table frame including longitudinal sides, end portions and a playing surface,

(b) rail supporting members aflixed to said longitudinal sides, each including a fiange portion extending above said playing surface and extending away from said playing surface and terminating in a horizontal edge spaced from the associated frame longitudinal side,

(c) ball receiving pockets defined on said frame adjacent said longitudinal sides,

(d) an elongated apron disposed adjacent each of said frame longitudinal sides, said aprons each including upper and lower edges and an inner surface and being of a length substantially corresponding to the length of said frame longitudinal sides,

(e) means connecting said aprons upper edges to the associated rail supporting member flange portion terminating horizontal edge whereby said aprons extend below said horizontal edge,

(f) a horizontal ball return guide support defined on said inner surface of each of said aprons, and

(g) elongated ball return guides interposed between said aprons and the associated frame longitudinal side, said guides each including a longitudinal frame mounting portion and a longitudinal apron attachment portion and a longitudinal ball receiving portion defined therebetween, said apron attachment portion being angularly related in the longitudinal direction to said ball receiving portion whereby upon affixing said guide apron attachment portion upon said ball return guide support and afiixing said frame mounting portion to the associated frame longitudinal side said ball receiving portion will be inclined with respect to the horizontal and said guides will 'aifix the associated apron to the adjacent frame longitudinal side, said guides extending below said pockets.

6. A pocket billiard table comprising, in combination,

(a) a table frame including longitudinal sides and end portions,

(b) ball receiving pockets mounted on said frame adjacent' said longitudinal sides,

(-c) elongated aprons mounted on said frame disposed adjacent each of said frame longitudinal sides and spaced therefrom, said aprons including an inner side disposed toward the adjacent frame longitudinal side and being of a length substantially equal to the length of said longitudinal sides,

(d) means on the inner side of said aprons defining a horizontal recess, and

(e) elongated ball return guides each having a ball re- 7 8 ceiving portion and an apron recess engaging por- 1,543,550 6/1925 Correale et a1 273-11 tion, said ball receiving portion being angularly re- ,656, 16 1/1928 Brinkman 273-11 lated to said recess engaging portion in the longitudi- 3,115,341 12/ 1963 Feddick et a1. 273-11 nal direction, said ball return guides recess engaging 3,180,6 2 4/ 1965 Reinern-an 273-3 portion being received within said apron recesses 5 FOREIGN PATENTS connectlng said guides to the associated apron, sald 7 guides extending below said pockets. 786,452 6/1935 France- 963,206 12/1949 France.

References Cited ANTON o OECHSLE E UNITED STATES PATENTS Hmary xammer' 0 1,257,050 2/1913 Thalheimer 273 11 RICHARD PINKHAM Exammer' 1,391,909 9/1921 McCool 3. 1 L. 1. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A POCKET BILLIARD TABLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, (A) A TABLE FRAME INCLUDING LONGITUDINAL SIDES HAVING END PORTIONS AND A CENTRAL PORTION, (B) END BALL RECEIVING POCKETS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT SAID END PORTIONS AND A CENTRAL BALL RECEIVING SIDE POCKET MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AT SAID CENTRAL PORTIONS, (C) AN ELONGATED APRON MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO EACH LONGITUDINAL SIDE AND SPACED THEREFROM, SAID APRONS INCLUDING AN INNER SIDE DISPOSED TOWARD THE ADJACENT FRAME LONGITUDINAL SIDE AND BEING OF A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF SAID LONGITUDINAL SIDES, AND (D) A PAIR OF ELONGATED RETURN GUIDES MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID APRONS ADJACENT THE INNER SIDE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID GUIDES EXTENDING FROM ADJACENT AND BELOW SAID END POCKETS TO ADJACENT AND BELOW THE CENTRAL SIDE POCKET ASSOCIATED WITH A COMMON LONGITUDINAL SIDE, SAID GUIDES BEING ANGULARLY RELATED TO THE HORIZONTAL WHEREBY THE PORTION OF EACH GUIDE ADJACENT AN END POCKET IS DISPOSED ABOVE THE PORTION OF THE SAME GUIDE ADJACENT THE SIDE POCKET. 